The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-25
s,Lk CULTURE IN KANSAS.

An Address Before the Kansas Legislatuf0
by Prof. HOrner.
Tne following address upon silk culture was
recently delivered before the present session Of
the Ksnsas Legislature by Prof Homer, Of EN-
poria:
NJ. Prssiasnf and members Of the Kansas Legis--
latSre:
an happy for the opportunity now afforded
70 address you, As representative men. on Sc
important Q subject as the silk culture industry:
and while have no purpose in approaching this
Legislative body other than to enli.:hten you
relative to the question at issue, think my
argument will appear more intelligent when I
demonstrate the simple operation Of silk reel
Ing In viewing this operation with this crude,.
simple reel, you can not for q moment doubt the
great possibilities when the mechanical economy
Of the ingenious American is brought in contact
with the silk Keeling industry. Proceeding to
reel he soon produced very handsome skefn
OF silk, which was passed to the audience for
examinationI
Proceeding, the professor said: The magni.
tude Of the silk culture industry in China Japan,
itaiy and South Russia is beyond our compre-
hension, while in nearly all Oriental countries it
has attained to great proportions as an auxiliary
IN national support, afiording suitable employ
ment to millions Of people, especially to women
and dependent children in rural and suburban
districts. The maximum annual production Of
China, Japan and few other Oriental countries,
adding Italy, France and other European coun-
tries, is estimated at q value of SlOO.OV,WO and
with the rapid increase of population in the
United States there is q necessity for broad
ened opportunities of support. During the past
year there was imported s24,0OO,00 worth Of
raw treeled) silk. and the noles (wastel which
after being manufactured in the United States
was valued ut S6j,OO coo: adding the imported
manufactured silk valued Mt $ss.0OO,W0 making
an annual consumption Of nearly slO,0O.00O,
which should be supplied by the American pro-
Queer.
The argument commonly used against silk
culture in this country is the want Of ''cheap
labor, but as an American citizen and espe-
cially as citizen Of the great State of Kansas,
which by nature is favored with the essential
elements for successful sericulture, am slow
to believe that the hampered Oriental labor is.
equal to your intelligence and broad opportuni-
ties. Orientals are content with small produc-
ton as well as with the slow imperfect methods
OF their ancestors; but the American by his
broad opportunities, by his intelligence, will
exercise greater economy, and fully meet the
emergencies.
Success in silk culture is largely due to an
adapted climate and suitable soil for the Wig
orous but healthful growth of the mulberry tree;
and having made careful research in this re-
spect. 1 represent that there is a broad zone Of
try. Thi. is dine 10 the drvness NJ the atmos.
phere. and as these essential elements are found
in Kansas and n vast distr;ct wing 10 the soptb
and west the I.ey;s,afure should mala carly
provision to commercially develop this impor-
tant industry, and thereby become the common
will no cent and snhsarre -, on .arar,a,e in
the s;,L ,ronn,o.,r-, MT !. a. ,,,,,san o,,-
nortunitr for Kansos 10 h.co,n, che en-, ce,,er
Of the New WorId Ist har ranr"s.,,.,;ve.
men .r;se IN ,he;r d;c,,;t "a h, ir,,,;.;ors 90.
tion declore tho, 100 .ha1, ,,,,,a ,,,o 80,
center ~ s.r;cr,;,,o ana Nv the
robe ~ siIl, To nv, :. ~ ,,a.,, ,,,,a,.;aa 80
,niI,ions ., aOI,,r. 80. "a -. 80 ~,
sod - n,,r ,ra.'..s ,,';,.s ..n. sho,,id
com. int, on ,...as,,-;o. ,tp,,I.h ,, .o,,,,,
tbis ;ndnstr,, '''e" INC
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